Container



P. ZALKIND May'13, 1941.

CONTAINER Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENT OR.

W2. 122m .2, am ./w//

F'. ZALKIND May 13, 1941.

coTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 21, 1933 v. I I l l l l n I I l l I I l l n l.

I INVENTOR I PLA/'0 Z/// f/ BY M f Zat/ww ffl.; ATTORNEY.:

May 13, 1941.

P. ZALKIND CONTAINER Original Filed Sept. 21, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fie.. '/4

Flc-LIQ INVTOR. PAM/)0 Za mnd M2M my@ I a ATTORNEY:

Patented vMay 13, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTV OFFICE CONTAINER Philip Zalkind, New York, N. Y.

Original application September, 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,360, which is a division of application Serial No. 631,682, September 3, 1932, now Patent No. 1,946,516, dated February 13, 1934. Divided and this aiwiication May 13, 1938, Serial l 12 Claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 690,360 led September 21, 1933, which in turn was a division of my application Serial No. 631,682 flied September 3, 1932, and issued as Patent No. 1,946,516, February 13, 1934.

My invention relates to novel casings and drawers adapted to be stacked to form a file cabinet or the like, and more particularly, relates to casings and cooperating drawers which are collapsible and accordingly adapted to be shipped in knock-down condition.

Although containers or casings have heretofore been constructed of sheet material such as cardboard, corrugated board, and similar materials, these have been found to be deficient in rigidity, stability, load-carrying capacity, and facility in operating the drawe And as tothe last, particularly where attempt has been made to stack a plurality of casings each containing a loaded drawer. In such instances, the load in each casing affected all the casings below it, producing various degrees of bowing of side walls, dis- -tortion and binding at the open ends of the casings, making operation diicult, and seriu ously affecting the life and usefulness 'of such containers.

Accordingly, among the objects of my invention are to provide: a novel, inexpensive and rugged container or casing adapted for storing records and the like; means in a stack of individual casings for maintainingr a predetermined geometrical configuration and dimension at the open edge or mouth of each casing; reinforcing or stiffening means at the open end or mouth of my novel casing construction; stiffening means adapted to be interposed between the upper and lower walls of a container; metallic reinforcing means at the open end of collapsible casings; coacting means at the edges of open ends; a casing reinforced solely at the open end; a continuous load-carrying means in a stack of containers; reinforcing members at the open end of a collapsible container so constructed that the reinforcements on superposed casings are in engagement with each other causing the load in one casing to bear directly on the reinforcing member of the casings below.

Other objects are to provide, in a collapsible casing construction ofthe character of material mentioned, means to prevent swaying; to construct such a novel device so that it may be manufactured to be shipped in a knock-down condition, of simple and easy assembly and erec-- tion by the user; to provide such novel containers and casings in knocked-down condition, thus adapted to lie substantially flat, requiring a minimum of space for shipment and storage, providing lowest cost, handling, marketing and distribution and reduced risk of damage before being put in use.

In using individual drawers and casings, ordinarily the casing tends to move with the drawer when an attempt is made to move the drawer out of or into its casing, due to friction between the loaded drawer and its casing.

Moreover, this diiliculty becomes more serious when such casings and drawers comprise a stack, the danger then being to disrupt the stack.

I have discovered that by so mounting the casings withrespect to each lother that adjacent edges of the reinforcing members of adjacent casings are in engagement and in interlocked relation with each other. The total load from all of the drawers can be carried by the reinforcing members acting as an aligned unitary structure. In moving anyone drawer from the casing, the load of all the other drawers is applied to and holds the casing back and permits thedrawer to be readily removed.

Accordingly, a further object is to provide interlocking means in a stack of casings.

Other objects are to provide interlocking means cooperating between reinforcing members at the open end of casings mounted in a stack; means to align side walls and end walls; means in cooperation with the reinforcing members to prevent the casings in a stack from sliding with reference to each other; means in a stack of open end casings for transmitting the load' of each casing to the adjacent casing through metal connections; a casing, for cabinet drawers or containers as above described, constructed of material similar Vto that` of the drawer, and having one end closed in any suitable manner and the edge portion of the other end or mouth reinforced by cooperating or interlocking strips, adapted to stiien the mouth of the casing and prevent the material from fraying out, and, as occasion requires, to also form a rabbet at the opening of said container; to construct container casings of suitable sheet material in combination with reinforcing strips of such construction and so disposed that the container may be shipped in knocked-down condition and be readily assembled .by the consumer; to provide means for locking or keying the metal reinforcings of a stack of casings together, to prevent said casings from sliding with respect to one another when they are stacked.

. No. 690,360 which in turn was a division ofvv my application Serial No. 631,682.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the open end of a drawer casing having reinforcing strips on the inside thereof. i

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the manner in which lugs ,or abutments formed near the ends of the upper and lower reinforcing strips are employed to hold side reinforcing strips -or posts in position.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3, including one entire vertical post.l

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a channel or reinforcing strip used in the casing shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a blank or development of sheet material having strips on the front edge thereof and adapted to be folded to form the casing shown in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a'section taken on line 'l-'I of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of container having the front edge thereof reinforced with strip and post members adapted to be held in place by means of abutments and adhesive tape in such a way as to form a rabbet along the side walls at the mouth of the casing.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9--9 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the posts and upper and lower strips in operative position.

Figure 10 is a section taken on line illi0 of Figure 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 1l is an enlarged detailed view showing the construction of the upright posts'and adhesive material for securing the same to the casing.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the upper and lower channel or stiffening strips shown in Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a blank or vdevelopment formed of sheet material to which posts and stiifening strips are secured and from which a'casing like that shown in Figure 8 m-ay be made when the same are folded and secured in the proper position.

Figure 14 is a view in perspective of a modified form of a casing having the front edge of the open end reinforced with metallic strips adapted to be secured by adhesivematerial carried o`n pads or fillers disposed in said strips.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on line 2|2i of Figurev 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a View of a blank or development from which a casing like that shown in Figure 14 may be made, shown as about to be folded upon itself into position for shipment.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a stiffening strip or channel for reinforcing the edge of the container shown in Figure 14, and the manner of carrying adhesive material, if desired, on a pad or filler disposed therein.

Figure 18 is an assembled view of a casing and drawer made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 19 is a detail view showing angle wires for interlocking purposes.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 discloses one form of my casing and it will be noted that in general the casing comprises a rectangular tube 3l with one 'end 32 lef-t open and the other end 33 provided with closure flaps secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by tape, and the connected edges of the blank being secured together by any well known means, such f or example, as the tape 3l. The-tube is formed of a blank substantially such as shown in Figure 6 suitably cut and scored.

My invention contemplates so forming the open end of a collapsible casing that its shape is not distorted by the load of the casing. For this purpose the Afront or open end 32 of lthe casing is reinforced by first turning extensions of the material on itself along a scored edge to form a layer 35. If it is desired to further increase the strength of the front or open end of the casing, the material may be` again turned on itself to be simple extensions of their respective walls or may be turned on themselves forming face to, face layers, which may be secured to each other. It is preferred, however, that at least one pair,

i either the adjacent or opposing reinforcing members, be free from the adjacent walls of the casing so that when the casing is collapsed for purposes of shipment, these free reinforcing members may be turned outwardly on their scored edges, so that they protrude from the front edge of the casing for the reason that, asis well known, the board most commonly used for such purposes is normally adapted to be collapsed on the scores without provision for undue pull or strain resulting from interposing a, bulb at the scores between the adjacent sides which are in face to face relation. l

If all the reinforcing members were to be turned inwardly and the casing collapsed, such interlying bulk at the common edges of the face to face wall members would normally be excessive and cause a. rupture at these common connecting lines. By permitting reinforcing members to remain in projecting or extendedA position when the container is collapsed, the risk or certainty of rupture or injury to the container from such interlying bulk is avoided.

Although I have disclosed the reinforced layers riveted to each other, I may, if desired, merely turn the layersy on themselves without any securing means as illustrated in the top and right side reinforced members in Figure 1.

The utility of this container will now be obvious. Normally for shipment, the container is collapsed to form a substantially flat uni-t with two opposite or adjacent reinforced members turned outwardly depending on the manner of collapsing. It will be understood that the casing is collapsed on scorings so that an edge with a reinforcing member turned inwardly cornes into face to face contact with an edge having its reinforcing member turned outwardly. i

Or, if preferred, all of the flaps may be turned outwardly when the casing "1s collapsed. In that case, none of the reinforcings are permanently secured to the walls of the casing. 'Ihe upper and lower reinforcing members may be turned into place first and the side reinforcing members turned in to hold the former in place. The side reinforcing members are then held in place by friction. r the reverse order of folding may be followed in which case the side walls are held in place by the upper and lower reinforcing members. The scorings and cuts in either case are suitably made to permit anypreferred order of folding.

At the consumers point, the collapsed container is first turned on its scored edges to form the tube as shown in Figure 1 and the outwardly projecting reinforced members 35 are turned on their scored edges into the position shown in Figure 1. Rear flaps are turned to closing position and secured, and-the container is ready for use.

Referring now to Figure 2, I have shown a casing formed as the tube in Figure 1 with four sides, one closed end, and one open end. However, I provide a different form of reinforcing member for the open end of the casing, comprising metallic channels 4I.

The channel 4I is shown in perspective in Figure 5, and as disclosed there, is substantially U- shaped with the edges turned inwardly to form lips 42 and 43. At the ends of the channel member 4 l abutments are provided by projecting lugs 44 stamped out of the material.

The metallic U-shaped channel 4l is slipped over the flap 45 in Figure 3 with the lips 42 and 43 cutting into and gripping the material, as illustrated, to anchor the channel in place. The flap 45, thus seated inside the U-shaped channel is turned inwardly along its scored edge as illustrated in Figure 3. The upright channels 4l are mounted on their corresponding flaps in the same manner and are further held in place against the side walls and prevented from turning on their scored edges after the flaps have been turned inwardly on theirscored edges, by the abutments 44 at the end of the top and bottom channel 4l.

In this case, for shipment, before collapsing the container, at least two flaps with the channels secured thereto are first turned on their scored edges outwardly to permit ready collapsing.

' In Figure 4, which is a cross section through one of the vertical posts 4I and including a cross section of portions of the top and bottom side wall, there is shown the outside wall 3| with the adjacent layer of U metal 4| and fiap 45 sandwiched between the two sides of the channel. A similar cross section appears for the horizontal upper and lower edge with the addition of the lugs 44.

Figure 6 shows in developed form the scored blank which is subsequently turned into the container shown in Figure 2. As shown, the blank y is suitably scored and slotted as at 55 to form the four side walls B to 59. At the rear end there are provided flaps 5| to 54 which provide the closed end of the container and are secured in any well known manner. Metallic reinforcing members 4I slipped over and heldin place on their respective flaps 45 in a manner already described in detail, are shown with alternate reinforcing members having lugs 44. As will now be clear, in the collapsed condition, all of the flaps with their reinforcing members may protrude from the open edge of the casing.

Although for purposes of illustration vI have here shown a specific construction of metal reinforcement, it will* be obvious that any other suitable construction coming within the principle of my invention which broadly contemplates the application of metallic reinforcing members to the open edges of the container, may be used.

Thus, for example, I may use a sheet metal which may be secured by clamping, riveting, etc.

to the flaps, as will be described in more detail` hereinafter in connection with other modifications of my invention. Although I have here described specifically the use of metal reinforcing members, it will be obvious that the principle of my invention embodies the use of any stiffening or reinforcing material such as various fibers, plastics, wood, etc., which may be integral therewith and is applied adjacent to the edges.

Referring now to Figures 8 to l2, I have disclosed a modified form of my invention in which the reinforcing member is substantially channel-shaped and is secured by cloth or tape or any other suitable flexible medium. Two horizontal members of one construction are secured to the horizontal edges of the casing. Two vertical reinforcing members of a different construction are secured to the vertical edges of the casing.

As shown in FigureI 12, in the horizontal reinforcing metal member 54, lugs 6| and 62 are stamped at right angles to each other. As will appear from the following, abutment 6l retains the associated vertical posts against the side walls and abutment 62 prevents the post from slipping out. Stampings 63 and 64 are also provided to form transversely positioned lugs for securing the reinforcing members to the wall.

As shown in Figure 11 the vertical reinforcing posts 60 are provided with a backing or filler 65 seated in the channel formed by the reinforcing member and the tape or cloth 66 is inserted between the backing 65 and the side 61 of the channel member and locked in position by the turned over edge 68 which pinches the material in position.

By moistening tape 66 before turning the post or channel into supporting position and thereafter turning the tape over the edge of the casing, it adheres to the edge and inner surface wall of the casing, thus supplying a means for maintaining the channel as a support in predetermined position. The tape serves at the same time to give protection and a finished appearance' to the edge of the container.

.As will now be obvious, the horizontal reinforcing members 59 are slipped over their respective horizontal edges of the casing and permanently secured in position by lugs 63. These reinforcing members d o not change their positions when the casing is collapsed.

When the casing is set up into its tube form, the vertical posts 60 are turned inward around their respective vertical edges of the casing and slipped over the abutments SI and 62, abutment ,6I pressing the associated parts against the side without hindering collapsibility. Further combinations are obvious in view of the above.

This post and tape structure also' provides means for forming, if desired, a rabbet by its position against the inner surface of the wall and set in` from the front edge so that when the drawer of proper construction is slid into position, it will fit against the formed rabbet and provide a substantially dust proof container. It will be obvious that, if desired, the metal and tape structure may -be used on all four edges of the casing.

As shown in Figure 9, the tape 66 is secured to the outside vertical wall-s of the casing in any suitable manner as, for example, by adhesive,

stitching and the like with the reinforced channel normally protruding beyond the open edge of the casing as shown at the right end in Figure 8. The reinforcing member 60 constitutes the vertical posts through which the loads of the drawers above are transmitted to the next lower casing as will be described in more detail hereinafter in connection with a stack of casings.

Normally for shipment, the casing 10 (Figure 8) is collapsed with the two vertical posts 60 extending beyond the front edge of the casings as illustrated in connection with one of the vertical posts in Figure 8. At this time, the top and bottom horizontal reinforcing members 5S have been slipped into place and clamped in position. In addition .the lugs 63 grip the material of the casing. When the casing is to be assembled, it is first turned to assume a tubular position. The rear flaps are secured to form a closed rear end. 'Ihe vertical reinforcing posts 60 are turned around the edges of the casing and slipped over the lugs 6| and 62 which then lock these posts in position as described hereinbefore.

The developed view of the blank from which the casing is made is shown in Figure 13 and illustrates the reinforcing members 59 at the top trated as disclosed in my parent application may be used in connection with these casings. It will \also be obvious that the casings may be used and bottom edges of the blank with their lugs 6| and 62 at the ends and the lugs 63 and 64 to assist in gripping the walls to lock the reinforcing member in position. Vertical reinforcing posts 60 are shown secured to the tape material 66 and in turn are secured to the outside surface of the vertical panels.

In Figures 14 to 17, I have illustrated a. fur-v @Lscontainers. bins, etc. without drawers.

In Figure 19, ,-I have shown additional means for maintaining rigid angular relation at the open end of my casing, said means being usable with any of the rstructures herein described or with the structures shown in my parent case Serial No. 690,360. i.

A lug |00 of the angle vdref=|0| is securely held by a horizontal reinforcement |02 in such position that it may be rotated on the secured lug so that the protruding lug may be engaged by a.

vertical reinforcement |03 of any of the forms herein described or described in my application Serial No. 690,360 or in my application Serial No. 693,841, filed October 16, 1933.

The angle wire |0| may be rotated on its secured lug |00 to be engaged by a vertical reinforcement |03' on a subjacent casing. The angle wire |0|' on the'subjacent casing may be rotated on its secured lug |00 so that its protruding edge may be engaged by the vertical reinforcement |03 of the super-jacent casing. In order to permit such intercrossing of the angle wires they may be formed with loops |04, |04 or otherwise deformed, so that they will not be strained" or twisted out of their proper position by such intercrossing. This provides a secure interlock between casings to prevent the movement of one casing with respect to the other.

The load of the drawers may thus be carried through the reinforcing members so that, as a matter of fact, the casings themselves can be made of substantially much lighter and less expensive material than would otherwise be necessary.

Although I have disclosed preferred forms of reinforcing channels, it will be obvious that it might take other forms, as flat or longitudinally beaded metaliicstrips attached to the side walls. Although I have disclosed a channel-shaped member as the preferred type of' reinforcement members, both for the horizontal reinforcement members and for the vertical posts, it will be obvious that where the load is not so great', I may use flat orlongitudinally beaded metallic strips secured to the wall along the edges by any suitable means such as riveting and the like. Moreover, in the case of the upper and lower horizontal reinforcing members, I may use such flat metal strips where the load requires channelc' shaped posts; or combinations of metal edges the containers entirely separate.

filler I8 comprises adhesive 11 so that when the reinforcing member is slipped into 'place and pressed against the side wall, it may be adhesively secured thereto.

In Figure 18, I have shown for purposes of illustration the combination of drawer and casing similar to that disclosed in my parent application. It will be understood, however, that other construction of drawers than that herein illusand tum-in flaps.

It will now be Aunderstood that I have illustrated some of the forms my invention may take and I do not wish to be limited thereby except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall: side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members at the front edges of said bottom and top wa11s; and vertical metailic reinforcing members at the front edges of said side walls to produce greater compressive strength at thek open front than that produced by the material in the side walls, said vertical reinforcing members being interposed between and contacting said top and bottom wall reinforcing members for carrying downward stress' of a load thereof said casing being collapsible with the reinforcing members mounted thereon; said vertical reinforcing members being mounted on a flexible extension of the side walls; and means for maintaining such vertical reinforcing members in operative position when such casing is erected.

2. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members at the front edges of said bottom and top walls; and vertical metallic reinforcing members at the front edges of said side walls to produce greater compressive strength at the open front than that produced by the material in the side walls. said vertical reinforcing members being interposed between and contacting said top and bottom wall reinforcing members for carrying downward stress of a load thereof said casing'being collapsible with the reinforcing members mounted thereon; said vertical reinforcing members being'mounted on a flexible extension of the side walls; and means on the horizontal reinforcing members for maintaining such vertical reinforcing members in operative position when such casing is erected. A

3. A casing for a file cabinet or the like havin an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold llines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same vis manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members at the front edges of said bottom and top walls; and vertical metallic reinforcing members at the'front edges of said side walls to produce greater compressive strength at the open front than that produced by the material in the side walls, said vertical reinforcing members being interposed between and contacting said top and bottom wall reinforcing members for carrying downward stress of a load thereof said casing being collapsible with the reinforcing members mounted thereon; said vertical reinforcing members being mounted on a flexible extension of the side walls; and

means on the horizontal reinforcing members for maintaining such vertical reinforcing members in operative position when such casing is erected, such means comprising lugs on the inner surfaces of said horizontal members adiacent the side walls and adapted to capture the ends of the vertical members between such lugs and the side walls.

4. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front end and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between the top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members at front edges of said walls to produce greater compressive strength from that of thematerial forming said walls for carrying downward stress of a load thereon; and additional members for maintaining said reinforcing members in predetermined angular relation; said casing being collapsible with the reinforcing members and said additional members mounted thereon; said reinforcing members beingdemountable; and said reinforcing members and their coacting walls comprising cooperating means for selectively securing said reinforcing members in place in operative position on the casing; such means comprising adhesive tape on reinforcing members of one pair of opposite walls; and lugs on reinforcing members of the opposite pair engaging the first mentioned pair of reinforcing members.

5. A casing for a file cabinet or the likehaving an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said' walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between the other pair of 0pposed walls. l

6. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open fron-t side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, g

. bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between the other pair of opposed walls; means for securely maintaining said reinforcing members in supporting position when said casing is erected.

7. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top,

bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between the other pair of opposed walls; means for securely maintaining said reinforcing members in supporting position when'said casingis erected; said means comprising projections on said members.

8. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having .an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between similarly arranged pivoted reinforcing members on the other pair of opposed walls.

9. A casing for a ille cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between similarly arranged pivoted reinforcing members on the other pair of opposed walls; said latter pair of reinforcements comprising means for holding said first pair in position.

10. A casing for a le cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls:

metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing; said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between similarly arranged pivoted reinforcing members on the other pairof opposed walls; means for maintaining said members in supporting relation by frictional engagement. f

11. A casingfor a file cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between said top, bottom and side walls along which lines the same is manually foldable to form said walls; metallic reinforcing members on one pair of opposite walls at the open end of said casing: said reinforcing members being rotatable into supporting position between similarly arranged pivoted reinforcing members -on the other pair of opposed walls; said latter pair of reinforcements comprising means for holding said rst pair in position; saidv means comprising members adapted to be interposed in abutting relation with said nrst pair of reinforcements.

12. A casing for a file cabinet or the like having an open front side and comprising a bottom wall; side walls; a top wall; said walls being made of sheet material having fold lines between 

